The prophet Daniel talked about the “Prince of Persia” which was really a powerful spirit-being.In 1979 President Jimmy Carter abandoned the Shah of Iran who was one of the few Middle East leaders to favor the West. His downfall allowed Aytollah Khoumeini to take power. He inspired the Muslim fundamentalist revolution that now threatens all of civilization.
Iran is the dominant power in the Middle East and it would seem that she is unstoppable in her pursuit of nuclear weapons. Iran earns an estimated $900 million for every $1 per barrel increase in the price of its oil and thus she is awash in cash. Additionally, she has ties to the E.U. and Russia. Much of her financial resources are put back into her nuclear program and into her efforts to spread Islamic Fundamentalism and terrorism.
In Ezekiel 38-39 we see a confederation of “end-time” nations under the leadership of Gog and Magog (Russia). Iran is called Persia there and she will be one of many nations invading Israel to “seize a spoil” and likely make an attempt to take over the tiny democracy. The exact timing of this is a mystery.
The Middle East Media Research Institute alerted the world that Iran’s Mullahs had recently declared war against the world by saying, “Iran’s Revolutionary Guards say, ‘Our missiles are ready to strike at all of the Anglo-Saxon Culture.’” That’s a declaration of war against much of the world! And their two primary targets are Israel and America. You will frequently hear Iran’s leaders talking about “crushing America” and “wiping Israel off the map.”
In Iran we now have the marriage of a Shi’ite suicide outfit to a nuclear missile capability. It would seem, however, that in their thirst for blood they haven’t even considered the consequences of retaliation.
Neither Israel nor America will sit around and wait to be nuked! Since America recently sold Israel “bunker-busting bombs” that penetrate almost anything and can strike underground as well, it would seem there is some co-operation going on here to take out the Iranian threat. Israel’s Army Chief of Staff Moshe Yaalon said recently, “We will not rely on others. We will do what we have to do.”
How and when all this plays out is uncertain but most experts say Israel cannot wait beyond 2005 to make a pre-emptive strike against Iran just as she did against Saddam Hussein’s nuclear capacity in 1981. And just as it was in 1981, Israel will be chastised, reprimanded, and humiliated as the “goat of the world” for doing humanity such a favor.
The Psalmist made no mistake when he commanded—not suggested—we “pray for the peace of Jerusalem” (Psalm 122.6).
Jan Markell